Arena da Amazônia (Amazon Arena) is the name of a football stadium in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.

The city is situated at the heart of the Amazon rainforest, the largest tropical rainforest in the world and the inspiration for the refurbished stadium, which will be enclosed by a metal structure designed to resemble a straw basket, a product the region is famous for.

England Manager Roy Hodgson criticized the location of the stadium saying the extreme heat of Manaus would make it difficult for players. The Mayor of Manaus later went on to claim that anyone who criticized the stadium or the city would not receive the best welcome. England were later coincidentally drawn to play their opening game against Italy in Manaus.

This sustainable stadium project will provide an important legacy for the region and play its part in helping to preserve the diversity of the Amazonian rainforest. For example, rainwater will be collected for its subsequent use in toilets or to water the pitch, while the region’s abundant supply of sunshine will be harnessed to generate clean and renewable energy. Plant screens will also be created to keep energy costs down and, above all, to control temperatures inside the stadiums.

Fixtures:

• England vs. Italy, June 14 (Group D)
• Cameroon v. Croatia, June 18 (Group A)
• US vs. Portugal, June 22 (Group G)
• Honduras vs. Switzerland, June 25 (Group E)

Cost: Estimated 500-600 million reals ($230-$275m)
Year constructed:2014
Overall capacity:61606